Over the years, different nationals have made their name in the English top flight. So far, 29 different Nigerians have scored in the Premier League while plying the trade for their various club sides.
In this post – brila.net looks at top 5 Super Eagles and others who have scored in the Premier League.
The Premier League is one of the top 5 leagues in Europe and one of the most watched league in the World.
[Nigerians who opted to play for another Country but have scored in the Premier League are not captured in this list]
1, Yakubu Aiyegbeni
(Portsmouth, Middlesborough, Everton, Blackburn)
Born 22 November 1985, the Yak had a successful spell in the English Premier League. So far, he holds the record of the Nigerian highest goal scorer in the Premier League with 96 goals.
Yakubu represented Nigeria at the 2000 Olympic games, 2002 Nations Cup in Mali and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
2, Nwankwo Kanu
(Arsenal, West Brom, Portsmouth)
Kanu is one of the few players to have won the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, UEFA Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal.
Papilo, as he is fondly called, is regarded as one of the best African footballers of all times having won the African Footballer of the year award on 2 occasions.
He scored 57 goals in 313 Premier League appearances. He is popular for leading Nigeria to her 1st Olympic football gold medal at the Atlanta ’96 Olympic games.
3, Efan Ekoku
(Norwich, Wimbledon)
On record as the first Nigerian to play in the Premier League, Efan Ekoku scored 52 Premier League goals when he featured for Norwich and Wimbledon in the League.
Though British – born, he earned 20 caps for the Super Eagles scoring 6 goals. He featured for the Super Eagles at the 1994 Nations Cup and the US ’94 World Cup.
4, Shola Ameobi
(Newcastle)
Shola featured for Newcastle for 14 years scoring 43 League goals for the St James’ Park landlords. Shola has the second most appearances as a substitute in the Premier League (Nwankwo Kanu is the third).
Ameobi featured for the Super Eagles at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In total, he earned 10 caps for the Super Eagles scoring 2 goals.
5, Peter Odemwingie
(West Brom, Cardiff, Stoke City)
Odemwingie who earned 63 caps for the Super Eagles had a decent Premier League spell.
At West Bromwich Albion he was named the Premier League Player of the Month on 3 occasions. Peter scored 36 Premier League goals.
Odemwingie won a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Other Nigerians to have scored in the Premier League so far are;
Sammy Ameobi, Newcastle (2)
Daniel Amokachi, Everton (10)
Victor Anichebe, Everton, West Brom, Sunderland (26)
Sone Aluko, Hull (2)
Celestine Babayaro, Chelsea, Newcastle (5)
Dickson Etuhu, Sunderland, Fulham (4)
Kelvin Etuhu Man City (1)
Finidi George Ipswich (6)
Brown Ideye West Brom (4)
Kelechi Iheanacho Man City, Leicester* (12)
Odion Ighalo, Watford (16)
Alex Iwobi, Arsenal* (7)
Obafemi Martins Newcastle, Birmingham (28)
John Obi Mikel, Chelsea (1)
Victor Moses, Wigan, Liverpool, Stoke, West Ham, Chelsea* (19)
Ahmed Musa, Leicester (2)
Wilfred Ndidi, Leicester* (2)
Victor Obinna, West Ham (3)
Jay-Jay Okocha, Bolton (14)
Seyi Olofinjana, Stoke, Hull (3)
Danny Shittu, Watford (1)
Isaac Success, Watford (1)
Taye Taiwo, QPR (1)
John Utaka, Portsmouth (8)
Joseph Yobo, Everton (8)
Credit: planet football
